Cops hope to get weekly offs after DGP’s mention

Newly appointed director general of police Sulkhan Singh’s talk about weekly offs and fixed working hours for police personnel has cheered those in khaki here.

The then chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had also announced weekly offs for police personnel but the decision could not be properly implemented.

Now, the police personnel hope to get a day’s relief from their stressful job every week. However, some of them also feel that the decision may not actually be implemented. Refusing to be named, a constable posted at the Georgetown police station of Allahabad said: “We have to work long hours. Owing to lack of weekly offs, we don’t get time to deal with our personal problems and responsibilities.”

A head constable said, “Most of the personnel who have been in service for long are suffering from stress and other serious health problems. Many of us have become rude due to frustration.” “We have to plead for even casual and emergency leave. Instead of the earlier system of sending leave applications by post, it is now made mandatory to be present before the officials when seeking leave,” he added.

An inspector, who was posted at a city police station earlier, said: “We are not able to do our duty to our families. He grieved that his son has fallen in bad company but he had no time to keep a check on him.”

A sub-inspector at the kotwali police station said, “A day’s rest after a hectic week will keep us in good health and reduce stress. The announcement by the new DGP should be implemented at the earliest to enhance our performance.” Senior superintendent of police Shalabh Mathur said there were no official instructions on weekly offs, but if the decision was implemented, it will certainly help reduce stress and health problems among police personnel.”